What are/were the civilians for?

[grimjaw]

... in the game, I mean. These civilians.

[ATTACH]31881[/ATTACH]

There are faction-specific unit/model files for them, but they all use the same image (except MEX, which uses MEX militia). They're also called "colonists." I know there are other unused units: Bateaux transports, Williams and coffee mill guns, Jayhawkers, even CSA slaves. Not sure what the civvies were supposed to be for in game terms, though, other than cannon fodder. They have stats like very weak, slow-moving infantry. They're extremely cheap (2 money, no WS or conscripts) and fast to produce (5 days). They aren't support units.

The image for them is a little more Wild West than what I think of when Civil War-era colonial fashion is mentioned. Something more like this (from the area of the Dakota War):

452px-Dakota_War_of_1862-stereo-right.jpg

[Merlin]

I have no idea what their purpose was, but if I ever get around to redoing the US-Dakota War, I'll be adding them in.

[Keeler]

There are several graphics/model files that haven't been implemented, or were in ACW1. One set that comes to mind are the corps badges.

[loki100]

they are in Wars in America as very weak fixed garrison units for isolated settlements ... myself and Narwhal spent a lot of time wiping each others set out in a game of the French and Indian Wars

so they might be designed to give some options for the Far West?

[PhilThib]

Indeed, planned for that kind of future developments...but more importantly, for modders who would like to do frontier scenarios...

[deguerra]

they are in Wars in America as very weak fixed garrison units for isolated settlements ... myself and Narwhal spent a lot of time wiping each others set out in a game of the French and Indian Wars

so they might be designed to give some options for the Far West?

Ah, those were the days. I'm off to re-read that AAR again